Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation APEC

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is an inter-governmental forum for countries in the Pacific Rim that promotes free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The multilateral cooperation was established in 1989 and aims to establish new markets for agricultural products and raw materials beyond Europe, as well as free and open trade and investment in the region. As a regional body, the committee will explore the relations between member states to address the region’s pressing issues through traditional MUN elements and passing resolutions.

Topic A: Balancing Economic Growth with Human Rights and Conservation
As reckless economic development often sacrifices environmental protection and disregards human rights, APEC will focus on challenging the mainstream narrative that economic growth is the main goal for countries to achieve prosperity. Under this topic, delegates will grapple with how APEC members can promote sustainable practices that minimize harm to ecosystems and local communities in their pursuit of economic growth and free trade. Issues like responsible sourcing of raw or rare earth materials, fair labor practices, and implementing environmental impact assessments for infrastructure projects will be central to the discussion. By the end of the conference, we aim to have delegates establishing targets and mechanisms for multilateral cooperation under APEC that respect the environment and international human rights laws.

Topic B: Transitioning from Fossil Fuels to Green Energy
The Asia-Pacific region includes major fossil fuel producers and consumers, such as Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, and the United States, which contribute significantly to global climate change. With the urgency of change, delegates will explore strategies for a just transition to renewable energy sources while balancing the economic capacities of their countries. This includes fostering technological innovation between countries, developing clean energy infrastructure using financial support from fellow members, and ensuring a smooth shift that safeguards energy security and minimizes job losses in fossil fuel-dependent sectors for local communities. By the final committee session, APEC would have found solutions and international cooperation in research and development that can appeal to member countries while still considering economic feasibility and technology transfer.

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